The Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Body Fat Percentage in Menopausal Women in Padang: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Abstract
The global increase in overweight and obesity has become a critical public health concern, particularly among menopausal women who experience hormonal changes that contribute to increased body fat—especially in the abdominal region. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has emerged as a time-efficient alternative to conventional exercise, offering potential benefits in reducing Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage (BFP). This quasi-experimental study, conducted in Padang, Indonesia, aimed to examine the correlation between BMI and BFP in menopausal women aged 50–60 years following a five-month HIIT intervention. A total of 50 obese menopausal women were selected using stratified sampling and assigned to either an experimental group (HIIT) or a control group (aerobic exercise). Pretest and posttest measurements were collected for body weight, BMI, and BFP. Statistical analyses included tests for normality and homogeneity, the Mann–Whitney U test, independent t-test, and Spearman’s rank correlation. The findings revealed significant reductions in both BMI and BFP in the HIIT group compared to the control group. A very strong positive correlation was observed between BMI and BFP (r = 0.914, p < 0.001), suggesting that decreases in BMI are closely linked to reductions in body fat. This study provides preliminary evidence from Indonesia supporting HIIT as an effective and time-efficient intervention for addressing obesity-related outcomes in menopausal women. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms and to generalize these findings to broader menopausal populations.
Keyword: High-Intensity Interval Training, Menopause, Body Mass Index, Body Fat Percentage, Obese Women.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/contagion.v7i1.23792
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